Handicapped girl molested, killed by militants

3 September 1999Daily Excelsior

RAJOURI: A young handicapped girl was brutally tortured, molested and
then killed by the militants at her house in village
Dhanna near Fatehpur, about eight kms from here last
mid-night. The killing of girl in a barbaric manner
sparked off strong protests from the local people.

The deceased has been
identified as Kaneez Fatima.

According to official
reports, a strong group of 10 militants, equipped with
arms and lethal weapons, attacked the house of Kaneez
Fatima at mid-night. They segregated mother and niece
of Kaneez who were also sleeping in the same room.

Militants locked other
family members in another room and molested the young
handicapped girl. Later, they attacked her with rifle butts
and sharp-edged weapons and killed her in a barbaric
manner.

Family members of Kaneez,
who were witness to the killing, told visiting police
officers that militants first chopped off ears and nose
of the girl, then used rifle butts on her chest and other
secret parts before attacking her on head which took her
life.

Militants poured kerosene
oil on the body of the girl and burnt it. The fire also
engulfed some parts of the house.

Militants escaped after
killing the girl.

Family members came out of
the room after breaking the door and informed the
incident to neighbourers. A police party from Rajouri
police station led by SHO Mr Haq Nawaz rushed to the spot
and cordoned off the entire area.

Police, assisted by
para-military and army personnel, launched searches in
the adjoining hilly and forest areas but couldnt
make any arrest. Police said the militants involved in
the killing appeared to be locals.

The heinous crime of
killing a young handicapped girl and then burning her
body triggered a strong wave of protests from the local
people. Agitated women reached the house and were seen
shouting some slogans after seeing the brutal condition
of dead body.

"Militants not only
committed the heinous crime of molesting and killing the
girl but did another brutal act by burning the dead body
as per Muslim rites she was to be buried", the
wailing local people said.

Rajouri police have
registered a case in the killing and started
investigations.

Prior to this, militants
had killed several young girls and women after outraging
their modesty in this district. However, foreign
mercenaries were reported to be involved in most of the
incidents of rapes and killings of young girls. But, in
case of Kaneez Fatima, police suspected the hand of local
militants.

Meanwhile, a Border
Security Force (BSF) jawan was seriously injured in a
mine explosion at Topa village in Keri area of this
district last night.

Reports said the jawan,
who was part of patrol party of BSF, lost his leg in the
blast when he walked over a mine, reportedly planted by
the militants. He has been hospitalised in critical
condition.